Special Initiatives

Raising public awareness of behavioral and mental health issues and working to reduce stigma.

National Depression Screening Day

October 11, 2018

Held annually during Mental Illness Awareness Week in October, National Depression Screening Day (NDSD) is comprised of awareness events that include an optional screening component.

National Depression Screening Day began as an effort to reach individuals across the nation with important mental health education and connect them with support services. Screening for Mental Health (SMH) pioneered National Depression Screening Day as the first, voluntary, mental health screening initiative in 1990.

Twenty-five years later, NDSD has expanded to thousands of colleges, community-based organizations, and military installations providing the program to the public each year.

If you are hosting an in-person screening event in your community that you would like listed on our national locator, submit a form HERE.

National Eating Disorder Awareness Week

February 25-March 3, 2018

Held annually during National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, our National Eating Disorder Screening Program educates and screens individuals for eating disorders and connects those who may be at-risk with local treatment resources.

National Alcohol Screening Day

April 5, 2018

National Alcohol Screening Day (NASD) is an outreach, education, and screening initiative that raises awareness about harmful and dependent drinking behaviors and connects individuals who are at risk with treatment options. NASD is held annually on Thursday of the first full week of April. Thousands of colleges, community-based organizations, and military installations provide the program to the public each year.

MassMen.org

MassMen.org is part of a statewide initiative aimed at reducing the suicide rate among working aged men in Massachusetts. The comprehensive website provides men and their loved ones with vital mental health information, anonymous screenings for common mental health disorders and suicide, and state and local resources developed by regional suicide prevention coalitions.

Stop A Suicide

Screening for Mental Health developed StopaSuicide.org as an educational suicide resource for those encountering suicidal thoughts and feelings, loved ones who may be witnessing these signs and symptoms (which can often go unrecognized), and professionals looking for clinical information on suicide and mental illness. Interested in raising awareness about suicide prevention? Visit our promotional toolkit.

Stay Strong Boston

Developed in response to the April 15, 2013 Boston Marathon Bombings, the Stay Strong Boston Initiative provided individuals across the Commonwealth and the United States with access to free, online mental health assessments for PTSD, depression, and other mood and anxiety disorders. Those taking screenings were connected with the Samaritans and the SAMHSA Disaster Distress helplines for further support.

Screening for Mental Health collaborated with Massachusetts 2-1-1 (Mass211), the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and Link2Health Solutions to develop this initiative. Support from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health allowed for the development of www.StayStrongBoston.org.